GERRY ROSLIE, organ, piano, lead vcls
ANDY PARYPA,… Read Full Bio ↴Personnel:
GERRY ROSLIE, organ, piano, lead vcls
ANDY PARYPA, bsgtr
LARRY PARYPA, lead gtr, vcls
ROB LIND, sax, vcls, hrmnca
BOB BENNETT, drms
The story about the Sonics started in 1960 in Tacoma, Washington when Larry Parypa began to play the guitar together with the drummer, Mitch Graber, a guitar player named Stuart (Stu) Turner, Andy's brother Jerry on sax and a stand up bass player.
Then in early 1961 Larry's big brother Andy replaced the bass player and a guy named Tony Mabin took over as their new sax player. The band was purely an instrumental combo at that time much inspired by bands like the local Wailers and Roamers.
Stuart Turner then got a military transfer and the band got Rich Koch as a new lead guitar player and Marilyn Lodge as a vocalist. Rich Koch was a big scoop for the band since he had played together with the Wailers. A guy named Bill Dean then replaced Mitchell Peter Jaber II on the drums.
When Rich Koch and Marilyn Lodge left the band in 1963 Larry started playing all the guitar himself. The local star Ray Michelson then joined the band as their featured vocalist. Ray Michelson had played with many bands in the area, such as the Falcons, the Vikings, the Roamers and the Imperials and was a very popular singer.
Bill Dean was more into his car than the band and therefore Larry began looking around for another drummer. They found Bob Bennett who played in a band called the Searchers together with Gerry Roslie and Rob Lind. Since Ray Michelson decided to leave the band to settle down and get married the guys also got Gerry Roslie and Rob Lind (who replaced Tony Mabin as the sax player) into the Sonics. That was in the end of 1963 and was the beginning of' the fabulous line-up that the world know as the Sonics.
The band still worked as a instrumental combo with Gerry Roslie playing his electric piano -but suddenly in early 1964 Gerry began to sing.
With Roslie as lead singer the band started out playing at the Red Carpet, Olympia's Skateland, Evergreen Ballroom, Pearl's, Spanish Castle Ballroom and St Mary's Parish Hall etc.
It was the Wailers bassist, Buck Ormsby that discovered the band as he was out talent-scouting for their own label Etiquette Records. "They were practicing in Bob Benett's basement", he recalls. "I was looking for something that was different, something that would rock my socks off and give me a reason to live! I went down and saw them, and I found it. I liked the guitar because it sounded dirty, and I liked Jerry because he was such a screamer".
The Sonics first recording was the classic "The Witch" in 1964 backed up by the b-side "Keep A Knockin'", an insane rendition of the Little Richard song.
"The Witch" became a hit in November after the Sonics had performed at Tacoma's Curtis High School. Andy: "We had just played their homecoming dance and Pat O'Day (the regions biggest DJ) came in the next week to do one of his sock hops and give a few records away. A bunch of kids kept requesting, The Witch so I guess he finally played it and the place went nuts. The next day Pat started playing (the record on the air). The single then became the all-time best-selling local rock single in Northwest history".
In fact this radio station (KJR) wouldn't air the tune prior to 3pm. Andy: "O'Day later told me that eventually the song had reached No 1 in sales, but the station policy said it was too far out to chart at No 1. The station only played it after kids got out of schools".
After the hit with "The Witch" the Sonics went into the studio, called Audio Recording Studio owned by Kearney Barton to cut their follow-up single "Psycho". And quickly this song also became a big hit locally.
After that the guys decided that it was time to cut a whole album and the band when into Keaney's studio to record the classic LP "Here Are the Sonics". The album was recorded on a two-track tape recorder with only one microphone to back up the whole drum kit. To get the distortioned and aggressive sound the band members had to overload the amps and redline the studio deck's VU meter.
Their next Etiquette-album "Boom" was recorded the next year, in February 1966 at the Wiley/Griffith Studio which was a well known studio for country musicians! During the recording the band began to tear down half the egg cartons that lined the ceilings and studio walls "to get a liver sound". The album consisted of the great originals "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark", "Shot Down", "Cinderella" & "He's Waitin' " and great cover songs such as Louie Louie, Hitch Hike and Jenny Jenny.
In 1966 the Sonics were the opening act for the Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Jay & the Americans, Ray Stevens, Herman's Hermits, the Righteous Brothers, the Kinks, Lovin' Spoonful, Liverpool 5, Shangri-Las, Mamas & Papas and the Byrds.
The same year the band switched over to Jerden Records owned by Jerry Dennon. The label also had the famous act the Kingsmen that made Louie Louie a big hit in 1963. They went to Hollywood and had Larry Levine at the Gold Star Studio to produce the album "Introducing the Sonics". This resulted in a much more polished sounding lp 'cause the band didn't have the same freedom and possibilities to overload the amps etc. The band members themselves describe the record as "the worst garbage"!
The last 45 recorded by the original line-up was Any Way The Wind Blows. After this members departed to go to college or join other bands - with Rob Lind being the last original member to leave in 1968.
Jim Brady came in on lead vocals in 1967 and by 1968 was leading the band. From Love-itis onwards they perfected a new sound adding strings and horns but it didn't go down with their fans and they slowly faded out of the limelight.
The original Sonics reformed shortly in 1972 at the Seattle Paramount live show and this excellent live performance has been released on Etiquette Records as "Live Fanz Only".
Rob Lind now lives in LA where he is involved in the film industry.
Gerry Roslie still records and writes songs today.
Andy Parypa is now teaching.
Shot Down
Sonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's the matter with you?
Don't you like
The things I do?
You're wearing a frown.
I've been shot down.
Hey little girl,
I play a guitar.
A brand new car.
Big man in town,
I've been shot down.
I thought he was having fun,
Now see what you've done.
Can't show my face in town
Cause I've been shot down.
Hey little girl,
I need you so.
If you want my love,
Just let me know.
Stop running around,
I've been shot down!
I've been shot down!
The lyrics of Sonic's song "Shot Down" tell a story of a boy who has been rejected by a girl he likes. He is confused about why she does not acknowledge his efforts and affection. He sings that he has been shot down and now has to face the consequences of publicly displaying his interest in her. The boy showcases his appealing attributes such as his guitar skills and luxury car, but she remains unimpressed. The rejection is so severe that he cannot show his face in town anymore.
The lyrics convey the message of rejection and the desperation and hurt that follows. The boy is asking the girl to reciprocate his love and apologize for shooting him down. However, she continues to run around and ignore his feelings, further increasing his pain.
The song's lyrics demonstrate the vulnerability and emotions of individuals who have been let down by someone they care about. It conveys the message that rejection can significantly impact one's life, forcing them to retreat and hide from the public eye. It also highlights the need for open and honest communication in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Little girl,
Addressing the young lady with innocence
What's the matter with you?
Asking the problem or concern she has
Don't you like The things I do?
Asking if she doesn't like what he's doing for her
You're wearing a frown.
Observing her somber mood
I've been shot down.
He's been rejected by her.
Hey little girl, I play a guitar.
Introducing himself as a guitar player to her and seeking her attention by outlining his musical talent.
I even drive A brand new car.
Boasting about his wealthy status and his ability to get her the finer things in life.
Big man in town, I've been shot down.
Despite his high status and outstanding credentials, he still faces rejection.
I thought he was having fun, Now see what you've done.
He was hoping that she would enjoy his music and take his talent with seriousness. He wonders what went wrong.
Can't show my face in town Cause I've been shot down.
The rejection is so deep that it's affecting his social life, he's unable to show his face because he's humiliated.
Hey little girl, I need you so.
Acknowledging his dependency for her and how he's willing to do anything to win her back.
If you want my love, Just let me know.
Making himself open to her and genuinely hoping for reciprocation in the form of her love.
Stop running around, I've been shot down! I've been shot down!
He's telling her to come to a stop with playing hard to get as the rejection is painful to handle.
Writer(s): Gerald Roslie
Contributed by Jason M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@keithwerner3218
Hey Little girl,
What's the matter with you?
Don't you like
The things I do?
You're wearing a frown.
I've been shot down.
Hey little girl,
I play a guitar.
I even drive
A brand new car.
Big man in town,
I've been shot down.
I thought he was having fun,
Now see what you've done.
Can't show my face in town
Cause I've been…
@andreaslattmann1813
Hey Little girl,
What's the matter with you?
Don't you like
The things I do?
You're wearing a frown.
I've been shot down.
Hey little girl,
I play a guitar.
I even drive
A brand new car.
Big man in town,
I've been shot down.
I thought he was having fun,
Now see what you've done.
Can't show my face in town
Cause I've been shot down.
Hey little girl,
I need you so.
If you want my love,
Just let me know.
Stop running around,
I've been shot down!
I've been shot down!
@samantha5460
Best band in the history of rock'n'roll!
@Mikeyt369
Should be on every garage band's must-play list.
@TitlowPark
These guys were the soundtrack for my youth! We would play their albums through a P.A. system with speakers hanging out my bedroom window while we played hoops in the driveway or worked on our cars. Like many kids of the day, we had a garage band that was inspired by the sound we heard from those vinyl LP's. Bob Bennett's drumming was as powerful as any rhythm maker I've ever heard and I still get that feeling I had then when I cue up "have Love Will Travel" or "Strychnine" on my IPod. REAL ROCK
@bensturm3525
Knowledge
@MsLoosylou
I saw them open for the Liverpool Five and the Stones in Seattle in 1965,...........three of the best rock bands in the World.
@cav5659
The animals and the sonics really were my favorites. They had so much energy
@glynnthomas1328
Agreed, lead singers who can melt your face off.
@kamran102
Early Kinks...
@stoprejectingmynames
THIS is blues. Absolute, pure blues.
@scottcampbell1958
Great band with just a killer drummer. Love the Sonics.